The Power of One or ____________(Your Name Here), Cultural Warrior
I am nobody.
Really.
I will never be famous or even well remembered,except perhaps by my family. But I can make a difference in the lives of hundreds, even thousands of people. So can you.
One day last summer I walked into our local Shopko (sort of like a Wal Mart). As I walked by a rack of dvds I noticed a famous X-rated film, the Last Tango in Paris (there is an R version, but this was the X, or NC-17 version). I was not in a neutral mood that day, so I grabbed one and looked for the manager. I found the asst. manager.
"Did you know you are selling X-rated material?" I asked politely, but firmly.
""What? Oh wow....I don't think we realized that..." the college age male stammered. He then defended the store-it was a "corporate decision," not theirs. I stayed with it and said I wanted the manager to call me as soon as he came back and I intended to go public with everyone I knew if they did not do something about it. Within 24 hours he called, apologizing profusely and telling me they had pulled all the copies. I thanked him and assured him I would let people know about his prompt and responsible decision.
I have called my kids elementary and middle school over the years, as teachers have shown videos with profanity, etc. in class. Every time, the principal has acted immediately and stopped further incidents. In one case. a substitute had showed the offending material. When the regular teacher got back, he apologized to the class (because I had called) and even took the video and tore out the tape, shredding it in the process, while he said he too had had enough of the crassness pervading our culture.
This past Christmas, I noticed a local all-Christmas music station was rarely playing any carols, i.e. any song having to do with the birth of Christ. Lots of Santa and snow, but no Jesus. I called the 800 number and discovered this was one of 200 stations, anchored in LA. I again politely, but firmly, asked if this was intentional, part of the "war on Christmas". The DJ said he had no idea what I was talking about, but would certainly look at the play list. From that day on there were a lot more carols played every hour-on 200 stations! All from a nobody, making a simple request.
I have other friends who do similar things and have similar results. But too many of us are too passive, too busy, or just don't think they can make a difference.
Dear reader, speak UP! By all means, pray first, be polite, but be firm. The examples above are small things, but consider this:
How many children were spared being molested because a disturbed individual did not see the porn they most easily could have purchased? One would be enough.
How many kids will remember what that teacher did and make better choices about what they watch or listen too?
How many people might have been encouraged when they heard the Christmas carols of their youth, maybe in a nursing home?
I'll never know.
But I believe if we speak up on the small things, we will be ready for the big things when they come.
So go ahead. Make a difference.
You are somebody.
Really.
I will never be famous or even well remembered,except perhaps by my family. But I can make a difference in the lives of hundreds, even thousands of people. So can you.
One day last summer I walked into our local Shopko (sort of like a Wal Mart). As I walked by a rack of dvds I noticed a famous X-rated film, the Last Tango in Paris (there is an R version, but this was the X, or NC-17 version). I was not in a neutral mood that day, so I grabbed one and looked for the manager. I found the asst. manager.
"Did you know you are selling X-rated material?" I asked politely, but firmly.
""What? Oh wow....I don't think we realized that..." the college age male stammered. He then defended the store-it was a "corporate decision," not theirs. I stayed with it and said I wanted the manager to call me as soon as he came back and I intended to go public with everyone I knew if they did not do something about it. Within 24 hours he called, apologizing profusely and telling me they had pulled all the copies. I thanked him and assured him I would let people know about his prompt and responsible decision.
I have called my kids elementary and middle school over the years, as teachers have shown videos with profanity, etc. in class. Every time, the principal has acted immediately and stopped further incidents. In one case. a substitute had showed the offending material. When the regular teacher got back, he apologized to the class (because I had called) and even took the video and tore out the tape, shredding it in the process, while he said he too had had enough of the crassness pervading our culture.
This past Christmas, I noticed a local all-Christmas music station was rarely playing any carols, i.e. any song having to do with the birth of Christ. Lots of Santa and snow, but no Jesus. I called the 800 number and discovered this was one of 200 stations, anchored in LA. I again politely, but firmly, asked if this was intentional, part of the "war on Christmas". The DJ said he had no idea what I was talking about, but would certainly look at the play list. From that day on there were a lot more carols played every hour-on 200 stations! All from a nobody, making a simple request.
I have other friends who do similar things and have similar results. But too many of us are too passive, too busy, or just don't think they can make a difference.
Dear reader, speak UP! By all means, pray first, be polite, but be firm. The examples above are small things, but consider this:
How many children were spared being molested because a disturbed individual did not see the porn they most easily could have purchased? One would be enough.
How many kids will remember what that teacher did and make better choices about what they watch or listen too?
How many people might have been encouraged when they heard the Christmas carols of their youth, maybe in a nursing home?
I'll never know.
But I believe if we speak up on the small things, we will be ready for the big things when they come.
So go ahead. Make a difference.
You are somebody.
posted by Rob | 10:42 AM
7 Comments:
Can't tell you how many times I've thought the same thought, though admittedly not about the same things. I'd certainly pick different battles to fight, but I completely agree with your sentiment.
Last year a friend and I wrote letters to our politicians about a little known discriminatory facet of Australian immigration policy--and I took it a step further and wrote an article about it in one of the papers I work for. (long story, but we only found out about the issue because my friend had been trying to hire an overseas trained doctor for his medical practice for several years-- huge doctor shortage in regional areas here--he had finally found someone, but that person wouldn't be able to come under the policy).
I won't go into details because they will detract from my main point-- but suffice it to say we made our voices heard and made it a big picture issue instead of focusing only on this particular case-- the policy was quietly changed a couple months later (it recieved almost no press coverage at all). The doctor now works at my friend's practice-- and it's opened up doors well beyond that.
It doesn't take much.
Lynnette,
I probably would pick the same battles that you would pick to fight, but I would also support Rob's fight.
There is a wisdom that comes from parenting small kids that leads one to lament the culture of uncommitted sensuality and dehumanizing violence portrayed in movies and on television.
As parents, Kathy and I were very slow to introduce PG13 movies into our kids lives. We also regret watching several PG13's too soon.
As young adults, Kathy and I watched and enjoyed several movies prior to our children's birth that we now think are trashy and detrimental to raising good kids.
I indeed lament our culture crude language, uncommitted extra-marital sex, dehumanizing graphic violence.
I indeed lament. As a Christian I should be focusing on a culture of kindness, committed love, and gentleness.
Yeah...it's not that I can't see your point...it's just I place more value on freedom of expression and speech than most and so even while part of me agrees with you I don't think I'd ever be comfortable waging war against it...if that makes sense.
The thing about pornography, as well, is the majority of people access it via the internet in the privacy of their own homes, not from magazines in gas stations and grocery stores...so sometimes I wonder if we're targeting the right markets anyway?
Lynnette,
There is a curious thing that happens to good people (like yourself) when they have kids. All of the sudden vulgar/violent images and language become offensive.
Before I had kids, I could watch most movies and TV shows without blinking an eye. I was an adult that could filter concepts and images easily (though that maybe arguable). However, when I watched some of the same movies with my childen, I would cringe at every grotesque violent act, fierce expletive, crude joke, and uncommitted sexual exploit ... even in the PG's and PG-13's.
I am for the protection of kids in public places. My beef is not against movies with violence, crudeness, sexuality. It is against movies and books that are supposedly aimed at kids but have age-inapropriate material. Let kids be kids and encourage kids to be good people. The rating system for movies should be developed by successful parents with successful kids.
I am sure we are in agreement on other issues of censorship. I suggest that the more dangerous censorship problems today are not in the realm of pornography or even popular culture. They are in current News reporting. Since the 1980's, the U.S. has removed thoughtful restrictions on news outlets. No single corporation could dominate all news outlets in a single market. News programs had to provide fair and balanced representation of political views. Now a single corporation can own the papers, radio, and TV news shows in a single market. Now, FOX NEWS can pretend it isn't one long Republican infomercial, because it is not required to represent other political views fairly.
The current (non-)NEWS of the large corporately-owned news outlets are lousy at educating the public on corporate and government malfeasance and on examining alternative views of international events. Our citizenry is becoming a sad collection of uneducated jingoistic non-thinkers. The crudity of popular culture is not helping, but the designed replacement of good news reporting with political propaganda and local sensationalism is numbing the U.S. democracy.
Please continue to write with a higher purpose, Lynnette.
Rob- I finally found the link to your blogspot, and so am just getting caught up! I loved this one about making a difference. I totally agreed that too many of us sitting blindly by thinking, "I'm nobody"! Reading what Vince was saying was so true as well, now with Cedar things before that I could filter no longer are filtered and my ears flinch when listening to the radio or watching the news. It's a hard balance to know when I am being fanatical, and when I am being responsible. I appreciated what you said, and the examples of what you had done in your life. Its a gift that God has given you, your ability to take action! And Wes and I will remember you always, so you can add us to that list of who will remember you! Blessings, Niki
Thanks Niki! I appreciate your comments.
Of course, I would hope Christians would stand against all things unjust as well as immoral e.g. racism,prejudice, etc. I just don't encounter such things much where I live. I would hope I would be as bold in those situations too. Good for you Lynette!
The new movie "Amazing Grace" apparantly does a great job of illustrating that,as William Wilborforce fights slavery, fueled by his Christian faith. May we follow his example.
(Ironically, it is not playing here and I am going to try to influence that situation too!)
Rob,
Just an interesting note:
We all know that studios make less vulgar versions of movies for airline audiences. I just found out that movie studios also make less violent versions for European audiences and less sexual versions for middle-eastern audiences.
However, directors and studios get snooty if parents request that the 'airline' versions be made available for purchase and rental. With great logic and kindness, a director will release the 'uncut' 'unrated' version with more vulgarity and violence.
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